Circuit-controlling kly for incandescent electric lights



(No Model.)

I A. G. BROWN. CIRCUIT CONTROLLING KEY FOR INGANDESGENT ELECTRIC LIGHTS. No. 345,880, Patented July 20, 1886,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR G. BROW'N, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE XVESTINGHOUSE, JR, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ClRCUlT-CONTROLLlNG KEY FOR INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LIGHTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 345,880, dated July 20, 1886.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR G. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Oircnit -Controlling Keys for Incandescent Electric Lights, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of devices employed for cutting electric lights into and out of circuit.

The objectof the invention is to provide convenient means for securing reliable electric connections between the conductor leading from the main or supply and the leading-in wire of an incandescent lamp.

The invention is applicable also to other forms of circuit controllers or switches, but will for convenience be described particularly in its application to incandescentlights.

The invention consists in applying to asuitable revolving key-shaft two resilient contactarms. the one of which is designed to be con nected with a leading-in wire of the light and the other with a snpply-conductor. The two arms extend toward ditferent points in the axial line of the key-sl1aft, and the latter is cut away in certain portions, so that when it is desired to close the circuit one of the eon tact-arms is sprung backward, while the other is pressed upward into the path of the former, which is then released, and by its resilience carries an extension against the second contact-arm. This insures a reliable contact and prevents the possibility of a partial contact being made. the second contact arm escapes beyond a shoulder upon the shaft and slides out of contact with the other contact-arm. The friction between the two insures a bright contactsurface.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a holder and circuit-controller embodying the features of theinvcntion. Fig. 2

is a transverse section of the same, taken on the line 2 2. Figs. 3and 5 are side elevations, partly in section; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the holder, taken on the line A -l.

Referring to the figures, A represents the Fig. 4 in full lines.

By turning the key still farther handle ofa key, and 13 its shaft. A contactat c, and presses against the shaft B. A second spring, D, also presses against the shaft B. The spring D is provided with a lateral projection, d, which extends into the path of the end 0. The belt of the shaft 13, against which the spring 0 presses, is cut away, as shown ate, forming a shoulder, e. The periphery of the shaft, by pressing against the spring, will raise it into the position shown in \Vhen the key is turned forward, however, the spring 0 will escape beyond the shoulder, and by its resilience spring back into the space 6. The belt against which the spring D presses is also cut away, as shown atf, and when the circuit is closed the end of the spring extends into this space, as shown in full lines. \Vhen the key is turned forward, however, the shoulder f, striking against the spring D, presses it forward into the position shown in dotted lines. This occurs at the same moment that the spring 0 is being raised by the shoulder 0*, so that while the latter spring is being bent upward the springD is pressed out of its path until it is placed in the position shown in dotted lines.- Thereupon the spring D escapes beyond the shoulder f and snaps against the spring 0, thereby forming a firm electrical connection. By means of this deviceit is insured that the contact-points shall either be entirely sepa rated or else firmly pressed against each other. In other words, there can be no half-way position of the two with reference to each other.

The connections of the springs O and D with the conductors leading from the supply and to the lights, or to the contactpoints against which the leading-in wires are to be placed, may be of any suitable character, and no detailed explanation is necessary.

The application of this invention, it is evident, is not in any manner limited to holders for i ncandescentlights; but it may be employed for connecting lights or other translating devices with supply systems, or in any other manner utilized where the connections and interruptions of a circuit are required to be certain and reliable.

I claim as my invention- 1. An electric circuit controlling device consisting of the combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth,of two resilient arms, a key-shaft against which said arms press, a shoulder or lug for pressing one of said arms away from its normal position, a shoulder or lug for simultaneously pressing the second arm into position to be engaged by the firstnamed arm when released, and means for thereupon releasing the first arm and permitting it to strike against the second.

2. An electric-circuit cont oll(r consisting of the combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with a shaft and means for revolving the same, of a circuit-closing arm, a shoulder or lug upon said shaft for moving said arm against an opposing force, a second circuit-closing arm, a contact-surface upon said shaft for moving said second arm in a direction approximately at right angles to the movements of the first arm and into the path of the same, and means for subsequently releasing the first arm. 1

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the key A, the shaft B, the resilient arm 0, having the contact-surface 0, means for bending said arm by turning said shaft, a spring, D, having the extension d, and the shoulderf upon said shaft for suddenly releasing said spring and permitting it to make contact with the spring 0.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth,of two contact springs or arms, a shaft for forcing one against an opposing force into the path of the second, and at the same time forcing the second away from the path of the first, an opening in said shaft for subsequently releasing the second while the first is still under tension, and means for subsequently releasing the first spring and allowing it to move away from the second.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of December, A; D. 1885.

ARTHUR 6. BROWN.

Witnesses:

DANL. W. EDGECOMB, CHARLES A. TERRY. 

